5 Week Songwriting Workshop

Production for Songwriters (Special)

What Participants Say:

“Tony’s teaching and coaching of songwriters is masterful. Over the years I’ve worked with him he’s helped me both to be more precise and experimental as a writer. He’s remarkably skilled in offering creative, concise solutions to problems present in a song — whether it’s cutting bars, reordering verses, or changing the tempo — without ever being pushy or overbearing. He’s also a rare type of songwriting instructor in that he feels equally at home in discussing the lyrical, melodic, and instrumental aspects of a song. I couldn’t recommend him more to either a novice or advanced songwriter.”

Paul Weinfield
singer/songwriter, bandleader (TamLin Music)

‘I’ve written my best and most well-received songs in Tony’s workshops. His well organized format, the input of other writers, and Tony’s insights give my songs the best chance to thrive.’

Scott Burrows
SB5

‘Tony’s workshops have enabled me to write with much more confidence and creativity.’

Andrew Drazic
singer/songwriter

“In the ‘Record Your Song’ workshop, Tony was able to understand exactly what sound I was going for and helped me make it a reality. I love the end product!”

Kristina Semos
Singer & Songwriter

“Taking place at a studio where Tony produces records, the series is relatively inexpensive, it rocked, and I was so happy to come away with 4 new songs. A month seems like a perfect duration for a songwriting workshop.”

“I have studied songwriting and music production with Tony for years and will
continue to do so. His teaching style is unequaled and his credentials are among the best in the business. My songwriting has improved significantly since studying with him.”

Todd Bird
songwriter, music publisher, artist manager

After taking Tony’s Garageband for Songwriters course, I feel so much more confident recording, editing, and enhancing the recordings that we are producing. Everything is so much easier now. I’m not wasting time fiddling around with the software – I know exactly where to go to get things just right.

Kenrick Everett
Songwriter

“I’ve been taking Tony’s songwriting workshop for years. The deadlines keep me going and each new assignment he creates has encouraged me to try new approaches to writing. It’s one of the only workshops I’ve taken where I don’t feel I need to conform to any rules stylistically; I can do my own thing regardless of the assignment and no matter what the goals of the other students may be.”

Tamara Hey
Singer/Songwriter

“Tony Conniff is a gifted teacher, musician and producer. His songwriting workshops are fun and informative, and his teaching style is easygoing yet efficient. Also, under Tony’s instruction, I became proficient in Garageband very quickly. I now am recording my songs on a regular basis, which, in turn, is helping to enhance my musicianship. I would definitely recommend Tony’s workshops and classes to anyone looking to gain more proficiency or skill. You won’t regret it”

Julie Kathryn (I Am Snow Angel)
Artist/Songwriter/Producer

“Tony has an amazing ability to make each songwriter stronger within their own voice. He explains complicated ideas in ways that anyone, at any level, can understand. When I think of where I started, and where I am now, I am amazed. And it’s because of Tony. Plus, he’s funny!”

Ellen Randall
singer/songwriter

About Tony’s Workshops

To hear about the dates of these workshops as soon as they’re announced, please join our email list (in the right corner above). We respect your privacy – and sanity – and will never let anyone else use this list.

If you’re interested in an upcoming workshop, please write using the Contact tab above.

Songwriting Day

NY Songwriting Day, our 5th and among our most successful and well-attended, on ‘Writing and Marketing Your Songs’, took place on Saturday, October 29, 2016, from 11am-6pm at Hunter College in Manhattan. Go to SongwritingDay.comfor information on the program.

A distinguished, informative, and entertaining lineup of presenters spoke and conducted workshops for songwriters on the craft of Songwriting, marketing your songs, and building a career in the music business. There was also a professional panel for listening to attendee’s songs.

Join our mailing list (above, on the right) to receive notifications and updates for all future Songwriting-related events.

The first five Songwriting Days were attended by capacity crowds. Look for our 6th annual – NY Songwriting Day2017. It’ll be the most exciting yet.

One-On-One

Private Coaching is available in all the areas listed on this page, plus in LogicPro recording software. For those not in or near New York City, consultations by Skype and phone are readily available. Also, if you’re going to be visiting New York, you can schedule a recording session and/or a one-on-one songwriting consultation in advance.

‘Record Your Song!’ workshop

You will emerge from this new 5-week workshop with a professional recording of one of your songs, produced by Tony Conniff. The process will consist of 3 group meetings to workshop your song and the progress of your recording, plus 2 individual 3-hour sessions where Tony will (with your active participation) produce, record, and mix your song.

Not only can each member of the group participate actively in creating their own recording – you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the other songwriters’ processes as well. No prior recording experience is necessary.

Songwriting Workshops

Tony regularly conducts 5 Week Songwriting Workshops, each held one evening a week from 7-9:30. Groups of 6-8 songwriters allow for individual focus and personalized attention, helping each writer advance their craft and explore his/her voice.

In addition, there are ‘Finish Your Songs’ workshops. If you’re a songwriter, you’ll understand the utility of this one!

Occasionally, ‘Songwriting – The Basics & Beyond’ is offered. This is for less experienced writers and also for more experienced ones who want to brush up on the basics. The essential moving parts of Songwriting are reviewed – how choruses work, melody, rhyme, rhythm, essential song forms, etc.

Garageband – Introduction & Intermediate

The Introduction class is a comprehensive overview of Apple’s Garageband recording software. Like Garageband, we keep things as simple as possible. You can walk out of this session with the knowledge required to start recording your own songs and compositions.

In the Intermediate class, we explore Garageband’s more advanced functions.

20 Recording & Production Techniques

You will emerge from this one-evening class with 20 new techniques, tips, and tricks – culled from the great producers I’ve known and worked with, my own productions, and the many Production groups I’ve taught – that are directly applicable to your music and song productions.

Nothing esoteric here; just 20 straightforward methods that I’ll demonstrate and you can put into practice right away to improve the sound and arrangements of your recordings, no matter how simple or complex they are.

Production for Songwriters – The Basics and Beyond (3 hour class)

This 3 hour class helps songwriters develop skills that are critical in making professional recordings of their songs. Topics explored include the basics of recording and mixing, how to use the most common effects (such as reverb, delay, EQ, compression), as well as the importance of arranging choices.

For beginners, it’s a look under the hood at the basics of making professional sounding recorded music. For those with some experience, it’s a review of those basics and a deeper look into the tools available to almost any recordist.

Gotham Writing School

Instructor, 2000-present, at one of America’s foremost independent writing schools, based in NYC.

Instructor for: Songwriting 1 (the basics of songwriting). Course content includes popular song fundamentals of melody, harmony, rhythm, rhyme, all common song forms, storytelling, lyric and music development, collaboration, song assignments and critiques. Course content also includes analysis of popular songs from all eras, assignments tailored to practice and emulate specific areas of songwriting craft, encouragement of individual style and work habits, in-depth critiques of students’ songs. This 10 week course is for beginners or those wishing to get a firmer grounding in the basics of Songwriting.

Songwriting 2 (songwriting workshop). This 10 week course is for those with a grounding in the basics of Songwriting who wish to gain more experience and expand their craft.